Because growing up they were the only team who's games I could find on television on a regular basis. And ever since then I've been attached. And I imagine I will be the happiest guy ever the day they finally start winning so it's something to look forward too lol

It has always been simple. I love basketball, the Raptors play basketball and are on TV. Didn't take too long to get hooked. Even though I don't live in Toronto (thank god for that ) the Raps are my team through and through.

It will be all the sweeter when this team finally reaches the pinnacle. As a Baltimore Ravens fan, I got to live that joy this year (12 years seems a long time, then I remember the Raptors...) and know that when the Raptors finally reach that point, it will be joyous.

But like Bane said in the Dark Knight, "without hope there cannot be true despair."

AS a montrealer wanting to watch NBA basketball, the vas majority of the NBA broadcasted in here are Raptors game. So I started watching them, and then I got attached to players like Mo Pete, DeRozan, etc. and then wanted to see them progess.

Also, Jack Armstrong might be the coolest sports analyst on the planet (half shots fired toward Rautins). I remember when DeRozan posterized Mozgov last year and he had me rolling on the floor literally (unfortunately, the youtube version is cut short). He made it easy for me to watch basketball as a novice.

rofl, I feel like the exception. I used to invest too much emotional energy in following the Raptors (and the Mavericks, then the Suns as a Nash fan)... then I realized... why? Nothing the Raptors do affects my life in any tangible way. And as much as you want to believe otherwise, the team doesn't know you exist nor do they actually give two shits about you. I like basketball and I live in Toronto, so I'm a Raptors fan, but I would never let it define me. I certainly never refer to the team as "we" anymore. It doesn't feel like a wise emotional investment given I have no control whatsoever over the Raptors. And really, I enjoy basketball, whatever jersey the players happen to be wearing, so...

It doesn't feel like a wise emotional investment given I have no control whatsoever over the Raptors.

it's kinda like dating a hot chick with a really fat mom...

you know at some point, genetics is going to fuck with your whole world, but with a little patience and commitment... some subtle hinting... you can curve her towards habits (ie/ diet and exercise) that will benefit you both... if that doesn't happen, and she follows in her mother's portly ways... you have to decide what "love" really means to you

I was just hitting my basketball stride when the Raps and Grizz joined the league. Being from Calgary and having lots of family in both BC and Ontario made it possible for me to envision the cities and buildings they played in, and one year they had the Nasmith Cup pre-season game in Calgary. I was hooked. When the Grizz moved it was a no-brainer. But that's also why I'll nearly always root for Memphis over anybody but the Raps.

Also I like being different. In Calgary you either watch NHL or NFL, unless you're like 60+ and are into the CFL.

I'm from Perth, Western Australia. I travelled to Toronto in february to sit court-side at the ACC. I went to the new orleans game and denver nuggets game after the rudy gay acquisition. I flew for over 36 hours to see the boys.

If you look at the top 10 dunks of the year the derozan dunk on mozgov I am sitting to the right of the back board - the first one up in the crowd with one fist in the air. This is me. High fiving rudy gay after the game winning shot was a top 10 highlight in my own life.

I love the raptors. I wake up at 6am to watch every game live and have done year after year. I have only ever missed a handful of games. If you asked me why i picked the raptors i couldn't give you an answer... but all i know is that when we win the ring through the dark times and light it will be oh soooo sweet. Raptors are my passion.

I love basketball
I live in Toronto
Raptors play basketball in Toronto

GOTTA SUPPORT THE TEAM!!

Its really that simple. Love all sports, but bball the most by a margin. Always said growing up playing ball that I would have seasons tickets for my team when I could afford it. Not quite there, but have had quarter seasons for the last 7 years or so.
Throw in that the team came into existence right around the time that I could truly form my own sports opinions (ie I was brought up in London Ontario to love Detriot teams, hate Toronto teams ... but none of that applied to the Raps because they were new, whereas it did / does to the Leafs/Jays and the CFL doesnt count).
Bottom line .. the Raps have been a relatively horrible existence, but in some weird way that has made me even more loyal to them than any other team .. not sure that makes sense, but its true. I guess its cause they are the only local team that are truly "mine".. not thrust upon me

Its really that simple. Love all sports, but bball the most by a margin. Always said growing up playing ball that I would have seasons tickets for my team when I could afford it. Not quite there, but have had quarter seasons for the last 7 years or so.
Throw in that the team came into existence right around the time that I could truly form my own sports opinions (ie I was brought up in London Ontario to love Detriot teams, hate Toronto teams ... but none of that applied to the Raps because they were new, whereas it did / does to the Leafs/Jays and the CFL doesnt count).
Bottom line .. the Raps have been a relatively horrible existence, but in some weird way that has made me even more loyal to them than any other team .. not sure that makes sense, but its true. I guess its cause they are the only local team that are truly "mine".. not thrust upon me

I find it kind of sad that that's how you feel about early experiences in being a sports fan. One of the first things I would have mentioned when i touched on psychologists evaluating the world of being a sports fan, is the great value that can be obtained from shared experiences between a parent/child rooting for their team and especially shared time going to games. I'm sorry you didn't experience what I did.

Hmmm.....Personally? Apart from loving basketball, loving Toronto, and basically growing up with the Raps?

Basketball was my first addiction. Go through shitty times, find a ball and a place to shoot. Use it as an escape, and as motivation to keep pushing through the crap. Those years ran parallel with the VC years. And Alvin was definitely a role model. Every time you think you can't push through something, just remember Alvin "no cartilage in his knees" Williams going above and beyond the call of duty to try and help his team win. I knew then that I would never be able to follow another team. The Raptors were like a friend/role model that helped keep me focused and on track.

I'm from Perth, Western Australia. I travelled to Toronto in february to sit court-side at the ACC. I went to the new orleans game and denver nuggets game after the rudy gay acquisition. I flew for over 36 hours to see the boys.

If you look at the top 10 dunks of the year the derozan dunk on mozgov I am sitting to the right of the back board - the first one up in the crowd with one fist in the air. This is me. High fiving rudy gay after the game winning shot was a top 10 highlight in my own life.

I love the raptors. I wake up at 6am to watch every game live and have done year after year. I have only ever missed a handful of games. If you asked me why i picked the raptors i couldn't give you an answer... but all i know is that when we win the ring through the dark times and light it will be oh soooo sweet. Raptors are my passion.

See this below (i am sure you have all seen it )

Bahahahah! I absolutely LOVE Acy's reaction on the bench. He pretty much shits himself.

I find it kind of sad that that's how you feel about early experiences in being a sports fan. One of the first things I would have mentioned when i touched on psychologists evaluating the world of being a sports fan, is the great value that can be obtained from shared experiences between a parent/child rooting for their team and especially shared time going to games. I'm sorry you didn't experience what I did.

As i re-read the post .. I can see how it comes off as emotionally scarred as if I was tied down and forced to watch Tiger game replays until I was blue in the face! Obviously not the case, and in fact all of my childhood memories of attending and watching games with my parents are amazing (albeit eye opening walking the streets of Detriot and hearing the drunks at Tiger stadium cursing a blue streak when I was like 10 years old!).

My point though .. is that for me, the Raps were the first team that I could choose to root for without any pre-conceived notions. To me thats a huge thing. I wasnt jumping on any one else's bandwagon. It wasnt possible for someone to be a bigger Raps fan me. I could choose to live or die with this team .. but it wasnt because Michael Jordan won six titles with them before I started following them or because Bill Russell led them to dominance. It wasnt because my parents were fans and passed it on (as many Cowboys and Steelers fans would be today, given the strength of those franchises in the 60s/70s). To me that had (and has) an extra special appeal beyond being the local basketball team, who I would be a big fan of one way or the other ..

Bottom line .. the Raps have been a relatively horrible existence, but in some weird way that has made me even more loyal to them than any other team .. not sure that makes sense, but its true. I guess its cause they are the only local team that are truly "mine".. not thrust upon me

it's like any relationship... anyone can survive through the good times... but the strength and conviction of a relationship can only really be measured when the times aren't so good... you don't really know if somebody is a keeper unless you can survive the BS and come out of it in a stronger position...

it's all good to have a chick with tits for days and an ass so cocked it makes shelves jealous... but how committed are you going to be when that all goes south?